BV 2815 
.N6 C45 
Copy 1 



021 062 906 3 



'■\ ! 




Class. 
Book_ 



515' 



^AJCoC 4-5" 



\ 



/ 



AN 

HISTORICAL NOTICE. 



AN 

HISTORICAL NOTICE 

OF THE FORMATION 

OF THE 

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY'S 
NORTH-WEST AMERICA MISSION, 

AND ITS PROGRESS TO AUGUST 1848. 



luUp^ 



FLEET STREET, AND HANOVER STREET, 
LONDON : MDCCCXLIX. 



Price Is. ed.} 



.V 



i 






Seeley^ Printer. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



The following Account was first published 
as an Appendix to the Bishop of Mon- 
treal's Journal of his visit to the Church 
Missionary Society's North-West-America 
Mission, which was made in the summer 
of 1844. 

It is now published in a separate and 
amended form. 



Church Missionary House, 
June 1849. 



C Is' T E N T S. 



PAGE 

Geographical Position and Inhabitants of Prince 

Rupert's Land 1 

Origination of the Society's Labours 3 

Formation of the North- West- America Mission ... 8 

Building of a Church 10 

Entrance of the Rev. 1). T. Jones on the Mission, and 

Departure of the Rev. J. West 12 

Completion of a Second Church — Trials and Progress 

of the Mission , 14 

Erection of a Third Church 18 

Formation of the Indian Settlement 20 

Commencement of Agricultural and Building Ope- 
rations 23 

Change in the Locality of the Settlement — Estab- 
lishment of a School and Week-day Lecture, 9.6 
First Baptisms at the Settlement — Hopeful Death 

of an Adult Indian 30 

Establishment of a Lord's- day Evening Service ... 32 

Further Evidence of Vital Religion 33 

Erection of a Flour-mill 34 



CONTEXTS. 

PAGE 

Rebuilding of the Upper Church. — Establishment of 

Schools 35 

Trials of the Mission — Death of Mrs. Jones 36 

Illustrations of the Effect of the Gospel 38 

Progress of the Indian Settlement 1 

Ketum of Mr. Jones to England— Appeal for mor 

Missionaries, and Arrival out of the Rev. J. 

Smithurst 43 

Present Condition of the Indian Settlement 45 

Arrival of the Rev. A. Cowley and Mr. J. Roberts — 

Return of Mr. Roberts 47 

Arrangements for the Upper, Middle, and Lower 

Churches — Building of a New Church at the 

Rapids — Arrival of the Rev. R. James 48 

Formation of the Cumberland Station — Appointment 

to it of the Rev. J. Hunter, and his Arrival 52 

Progress of the Cumberland Station 57 

Death of Mrs. Hunter , ... 62 

Formation and Progress of a branch Station at Lac-la- 

Ronge 63 

Openings at Isle-de-la-Crosse and Fort Chippewyan ... 71 
Formation and Progress of the Manitoba Station... ... 72 

Visit of the Bishop of Montreal — Appointment and 

Departure of a Bishop for Rupert's Land 78 



AN 



HISTOEICAL XOTICE, 



8^C. See. 



The country in which the Society's Mission is 
carried on is called Rupert's Land from its hav- 
ing been given by King Charles the Second — 
in a Charter incorporating the Hudson' s-Bay 
Company granted in 1670 — to Prince Rupert 
(and others) son of Frederic, Elector Palatine, by 
Elizabeth, daught-er of James the First. 

Geographical Position and Inhabitants of Vrince 
Riiperfs Land, 

The Territories thus granted to the Hudson' s- 
Bay Company are of great extent, reaching from 

B 



the western boundary of Canada to the Pacific 
Ocean, and from the frontier of the United States, 
in about North Lat. 49^, to as far North as has 
hitherto been explored ; with the exception of a 
portion to the North-West, which belongs to the 
Empire of Russia. 

This immense tract of country is varied by 
a succession of plains, lakes, and rivers ; and 
it is intersected, between W. Long. 115° and 
130^, by a chain of mountains called the Rocky 
Mountains, running from North- West to South- 
East. 

The Indians, Vv^ho are thinly scattered through- 
out this vast extent of country, have no towns 
or villages ; but hve in tents, and obtain a scanty 
subsistence by hunting and fishing. The Tribes 
among whom Missionary labours have been car- 
ried on by the Church Missionary Society are 
chiefly the Muscaigoes, or Swampy Crees, and 
the Saulteaux, a branch of the Chippeways. 

In the year 1815 an Agricultural Settlement was 
formed on the banks of the Red River, to the south 
of Lake Winnipeg, by the late Earl of Selkirk. 
After an eventful history, and the subsequent 
transfer of the Settlement to the Hudson' s-Bay 
Company, it became the resort of a considerable 
settled population, consisting chiefly of retired 



sei-vants of the Company and their country -born 
families. 

Communication is maintained between Eng- 
land and Prince Rupert's Land either through 
Canada — the route taken by the Bishop of Mon- 
treal, and fully described in his Lordship's Jour- 
nal^ — or by means of the Hudson' s-Bay Com- 
pany's ships, which sail from England about the 
end of May or beginning of June, and usually 
arrive at York Fort, on the shores of Hudson's 
Bay, some time in the month of August. It is 
only during four months in the summer that 
Hudson's Bay is navigable, on account of the 
ice. This may serve to give some idea of the 
secluded character of those remote regions. 

Origination of the Society^ s Labours, 

The attention of the Hudson' s-Bay Company's 
Agents was more especially directed to the moral 
and rehgious improvement of the Natives, by the 
authorities at home, in the year 1815, when Gover- 
nor Semple was sent out. He was requested to 
make inquiries both as to the existence of any re- 
mains of aboriginal religious rites or edifices, and 
as to the means of introducing Christian instruc- 
tion. A Letter upon this subject, from which an 



extract is introduced at page 10, was shortly after- 
ward transmitted by him to the Company. 

In the year 1819 the Company determined to 
send out a Chaplain to reside at the Red-River 
Settlement; and the Rev. J. West, an active 
friend of the Society, and recommended by them, 
was appointed to the office. Mr. West imme- 
diately expressed his desire of availing himself of 
any opportunities, which his new position might 
place within his reach, to benefit the heathen ; 
especially by the establishment of Schools for the 
Indians. 

The Society were also furnished with a judicious 
paper on the prospects and means of imparting 
instr action to the Indians, and on the degree of 
assistance which could be rendered to such Mis- 
sionary exertions by the Company.''' 

The Society determined to place the sum of 
100/. at Mr. West's disposal to enable him to 
make a trial of a School for Indians. 

Mr. West left England in one of the Company's 
ships at the end of May 1820, and arrived at 
York Fort on the 15th of August. He remained 
here upward of a fortnight, while arrangements 
were made for proceeding to his destination. 

* See Appendix xii to the 20th Report. 



During this period, he had many opportunities of 
visiting the Indians in their tents, and was much 
impressed with their degraded state. One of 
them, named Withaweecapo, who had two wives, 
was prevailed upon to give up two of his children 
to Mr. West's care to be educated, and it was 
arranged that one of them should proceed wdth 
him to the Red River, and that the other should 
follow. Mr. West wrote in 1841 — 

Well do I remember Witbaweecapo bringing bis 
son to me in bis arms, as I sat in the boat waiting for 
him ; and, as be parted with bis boy, with tears of 
affection saying, *^ There, I give you my son to teach 
as you say ; because I think you will take care of him 
as you say, and will treat him as a father. But I shall 
come and see my boy." 

It is an interesting fact, that fourteen years 
afterward, Witbaweecapo fulfilled his intention. 
He came a distance of many hundred miles to 
'* see his boy.'^ During that visit, he heard and 
embraced the Gospel. He put away one of his 
wives, and was married to the other. He now 
sleeps by the side of the Indian Church. His 
widow is a Communicant, and all their children, 
seven in number, are Christians. 

On Mr. West's arrival at Norway House, he 
obtained another Indian boy ; and on entering the 



mouth of the Red River, after having traversed 
the whole length of Lake Winnipeg, he first be- 
came acquainted with a band of Saulteaux Indians, 
then encamped at Netley Creek as their summer 
residence, who, with then* Chief Pigw^-s, occupy 
a somewhat prominent place in the subsequent 
annals of the Mission. 

The Settlement, at this time, consisted of a 
number of huts widely scattered along the margin 
of the River. There was a Roman-Cathohc Cha- 
pel in course of erection ; and a small house ad- 
johiing, the residence of the Priest ; but no Pro- 
testant Church or School-house. The state of the 
European and mixed population was such as might 
have been anticipated, w^here no opportunities 
existed for Pubhc Worship, and where the sacred 
ordinance of marriage, with its holy sanctions and 
attendant obligations, had fallen into disuse. From 
his first arrival at York Fort, however, Mr. West 
found his ministrations well attended. One of 
the Settlers, being present at Di\'ine Service at 
Fort Douglas, on the second Lord's-day after Mr. 
W^est's amval at the Red River, stated that it was 
the happiest day of his life ; as he had not been 
at a place of worship for thirty years, since he 
left England. 

In order that no time might be lost, a tern- 



poran* log-house, conveniently situated near the 
dwellings of the Protestant Settlers, vras repaired 
and opened as a School under the care of ]Mr. 
Harbidge, who had accompanied Mr. West from 
England with that ^-iew. The number of Scholars 
soon amounted to thirt}-. The Indian boys, how- 
ever, still continued under the personal care and 
instruction of Mr. West. 

In the beginning of the year 1S21, Mr. West, 
in the discharge of his duties as Chaplain, visited 
the Company's Trading Estabhshments at Bran- 
don House and Beaver Creek. Duiing this jour- 
ney of 500 or 600 miles, performed in a cariole 
drawn by dogs, he had frequent opportunities of 
intercourse with Indians, many of whom seemed 
to appreciate the kind interest which he took in 
their behalf; and he beheved that several children 
would have been entrusted to him, if he had had 
an estabhshment prepared for their reception. 
One boy was sent to him, about three months 
afterward, by an Indian with whom he conversed 
on this occasion. 

When the time came for sending letters to 
England, in the following September, Mr. West 
was able to report favom'ably respectuig his la- 
bours and prospects. He stated — 

Those boys who have been with me since last year 



8 

can now converse pretty freely in English, are just 
beginning to read, and can repeat the Lord's Prayer 
correctly. The other day, I gave them a small por- 
tion of ground for a garden, and I never saw European 
school-boys more delighted than they were in hoeing 
and planting it. 

He also stated, that, as there was every pro- 
bability that many more children v^ould be con- 
signed to his care, a- School-house, sixty feet by 
twenty, with rooms partitioned off at each end 
for a Schoolmaster and a hunter, was in course 
of erection as an establishment for them. 



Formation of the North-West America 
Mission. 

On the 28th of January 1822, a special meeting 
of the Committee of the Church Missionary Society 
was held, at which Benjamin Harrison, Esq., and 
Nicholas Garry, Esq., two of the Directors of the 
Hudson' s-Bay Company, attended, and presented 
a paper which had been drawn up by Mr. Harrison, 
urging upon the Society the expediency and practi- 
cabihty of forming a Missionar}' Station at the Red 
River, for the benefit of the Native Heathen 
within the countries over which the Hudson' s-Bay 
Company have trading Establishments, and offer- 



ing certain important facilities for tlie advance- 
ment of this object. 

This communication, in connexion with the in- 
formation furnished by Mr. West, induced the 
Committee unanimously to determine that a regu- 
lar Mission should be formed under the superin- 
tendence of Mr. West ; that another Missionary 
should be sent out to his assistance ; and that the 
estabhshment for Indian children should be car- 
ried on at the charge of the Society. 

Tidings of this arrangement were received by 
Mr. West with much joy and gratitude. He 
wrote, on the 28th of August — 

No one ever received news from a far country 
which more gladdened the heart than your letters did 
mine. I read them again and again with lively emo- 
tions of gratitude, and with joyful hope, that, as the 
sinews of war are now afforded, the Banner of the 
Cross would be successfully unfurled among the Bri- 
tish North- American Indians. 

At the end of this year, there were eight In- 
dian boys and two girls, with a Half-breed woman 
to take care of the children, upon the establish- 
ment. Two of the boys, who were able to read 
the New Testament, and repeat the Church Cate- 
chism and the chief truths of the Christian reli- 
gion, had been baptized, by the names of James 



10 

Hope and Henry Budd ; and the School-house had 
been completed, and used as a temporal*}' place 
for Divine Worship. 

Building of a Church. 

A more suitable building for this purpose, 
however, was felt to be necessary ; and in June 
1823, a Church was completed. It was an hum- 
ble structure, built of wood; but it was an object 
of much interest, as being the first Protestant 
Church ever built in those wide regions where 
the Indians roam. 

On this subject Mr. West remarked — 

I have just had the happiness to see the accomplish- 
ment of the wish so feelingly expressed by the late 
Mr. Semple, who fell mortally wounded near the spot 
where our buildings are erected. In a Letter, dated 
in the year 1815, he observed — 

I have trodden the burnt ruins of houses, "bams, a mill, a 
fort, and sharpened stockades ; but none of a Place of Wor- 
ship, even upon the smallest scale.* I blush to say that, over 

* This is an extract from a Letter of Governor Sem- 
ple to Benjamin Harrison, Esq., dated December 31, 
1815, alluded to in page 3, and refers to the inquiry, 
which the Governor had been requested to make, 
as to any vestiges of places of worship erected by the 
aboriginal inhabitants, or in ancient times. 



n 

the whole extent of the Hudson's-Bay Territories, no snch 
building exists. It is surely high time that this foul reproach 
should be done away from among men belonging to a Chris- 
tian Nation. I must confess that 1 am anxious to see the first 
little Christian Church, and steeple of wood, slowly rising 
among the mlds ; and to hear the sound of the first Sabbath- 
bell which has tolled here since the Creation. 

As I was returning from visiring some of the Settlers 
about nine or ten miles below, one evening, the length- 
ened shadows of the setting sun cast from the build- 
ings, and the consideration that there was now a land- 
mark of Christianity in this wild waste, and an Asylum 
opened for the instruction and maintenance of Indian 
children, raised the most agreeable sensations in my 
mind ; and led me into a train of thought which awa- 
kened a hope, that, in the divine compassion of the 
Saviour, it might be the means of raising a Spiritual 
Temple in this wilderness to the honour of His name. 
In the present state of the people, I considered it no 
small point gained, to have formed a religious estab- 
lishment. The outward walls, even, and spire of the 
Church, cannot fail of having some effect on the minds 
of a wandering people, and of the population of the 
Settlement. 

The Congregation at this time consisted, on an 
average, of fi-ora 100 to 130 ; and among the Sun- 
day-scholars, 50 in number, were included several 
adult Indian women, mamed to Em-opeans. 

Ha\Tng laboured so successfully in laying the 
foundation of the Mission, at the sacrifice, which 



J2 

he deeply felt, of being separated for three years 
from his wife and family, Mr. West resolved to 
visit England^ with the intention of returning 
with them to the scene of his labours. Circum- 
stances of various kinds, however, prevented the 
fulfilment of this last intention. 



Entrance of the Rev, D, T, Jones on the Mission, 
and Departure of Mr. West, 

In the mean time, the services of the Rev. D. T. 
Jones had been appropriated by the Committee 
to this Mission, and he accordingly sailed from 
England in the Company's ship in June 1823. 

Mr. West left the Red River Settlement on 
the 11th of June, and arrived at York Fort on 
the 2nd of July. He then proceeded on foot 
to visit Fort Churchill, on the western side of 
Hudson's Bay, mth a view to obtain some 
intercourse with the Esquimaux, in whom he 
felt deeply interested from some conversation 
which he had had in the preceding year with 
Captain Franklin and Dr. Richardson, when they 
returned from the Northern Land Expedition. 

Some interesting extracts from Mr. West's 
Journal during this visit are given in the Twenty- 
fourth Report, pp. 202 — 4. 



13 

He returned to York Fort on the nineteenth of 
August, and spent about three weeks with Mr. 
Jones, who had arrived three days before, confer- 
ring on the best means of promoting the Mission. 

At the end of this time, Mr. West sailed for 
England, and Mr. Jones, with two Indian boys 
brought by Mr. West from Fort Churchill, pro- 
ceeded on his journey to the Red River, where 
he immediately entered on the sphere of labour 
occupied by his predecessor. 

The account of his proceedings which Mr. 
Jones was enabled to send home in the summer 
of 1824 was most encouraging. 

He met with much countenance and support 
from the Authorities of the Hudson's Bay Com- 
pany. The Church had not only been crowded 
all the winter, but had become much too small 
to contain the Congregation, so that it became 
necessary to commence the erection of an addi- 
tional Church. There were twelve Indian boys 
and two girls in the Establishment. The number 
of Sunday- scholars had increased to 169. And 
the eagerness of some of the Half-breed youths 
to obtain instruction, as well as the progress of 
the Indian children, and the susceptibility or 
religious feeling manifested by them, were exceed- 
ingly encouraging. 



14 

In reference to the Congregation, Mr. Jones 
wrote — ' 

It is truly gratifying to my soul, on the Lord*s-day 
morning, to look out of my window, and see the peo- 
ple coming in groups, as far as the eye can reach ; 
and my pleasure is douhly heightened, when I per- 
ceive them, as they pass, to be principally Half-breed 
Natives and Indians. I am ready to cry, from the 
impulse of congenial feeling with the Psalmist, '* I 
w^as glad when they said unto me. Let us go into the 
House of the Lord.., whither the tribes go up, the 
tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to 
give thanks unto the name of the Lord." 



Completion of a Second Church — Trials and 
Progress of the Mission, 

On the thirtieth of January in the following 
year, 1825, the New Church was completed and 
opened for Divine Service. It was built on a 
plain called Image Plain, about six miles lower 
down the Settlement than the Upper Church. 
The Settlers subscribed liberally, according to 
their means, toward its erection. The Congrega- 
tions at both Churches were large and attentive. 

Mr. Jones at this time remarked — 

The work of the Lord is growing daily. I am hardly 
a day without some new encouragement to proceed. 



15 

In the autumn of this year Mr. Jones was 
joined by the Rev. W. Cockran, to whose cha- 
racter and labours a most favourable and just tes- 
timony is borne by the Bishop in his Journal. 

One event, which occurred at the close of this 
year, must not be omitted in this sketch — the 
admission of the first Native Indian to the 
Lord's Supper. She was the wife of a European 
Settler, and had for a long time been most 
regular in her attendance on the means of grace. 
Her knowledge of di\-ine things had increased 
rapidly, and her conduct corresponded with her 
professed determination to forsake all and follow 
Christ. Her daughter followed her example, and 
became an ornament to religion and a blessing 
to her neighbourhood. Mr. Jones could not help 
shedding tears of joy at this additional proof of 
divine approbation afforded to his labours. 

The year 1826 was a most eventful and trying 
period to the Settlement and the Mission. The 
severity of the winter had been unprecedented. 
The buffalo in the hunting-grounds had pre- 
viously failed. The Settlers were compelled to 
support their cattle upon wheat and barley, there- 
by rendering it doubtful whether any would re- 
main for seed. On account of the lateness of 
the season it was feared that no wheat-crops 



16 

could be expected at all, and if any thing occurred 
to prevent the prosperity of barley and potatoes, 
a famine seemed inevitable. This distress was 
increased by the destructive inundation to which 
the Bishop refers, and which might well be regard- 
ed by the inhabitants as an era not to be forgot- 
ten. It prevailed from the beginning of May 
till the middle of June. Nearly every house in 
the Settlement was swept away, and the country 
laid under water as far as the eye could reach. 
The Missionaries, in common with the rest of 
the inhabitants, were obliged, for about a month, 
to leave their dwellings, and reside under tents 
pitched on a high spot of ground. A particularly 
interesting account of this distressing visitation 
is contained in the Missionary Register for 1 826, 
pp. 633 — 637. In the midst of judgment, how- 
ever, God remembered mercy. The Churches, 
School-houses, and dwellings of the Missionaries, 
were but httle injured ; the fears entertained res- 
pecting the barley and potato-crops proved 
groundless ; and the happy influence which their 
distresses produced upon the minds of the people 
illustrated the declaration of Scripture, ^' When 
the judgments of the Lord are in the earth, 
the inhabitants of the world will learn righteous- 
ness." 



17 

During the next four years, the progress of 
the Mission was satisfactory and encouraging ; 
but it was not marked by any occurrence of 
striking interest. Mr. Jones visited England for 
the benefit of his health, and returned to his 
labours accompanied by Mrs. Jones. The attend- 
ance at the two Churches continued to be good. 
The number of Communicants was greatly in- 
creased. In 1824, there were only six ; in 1828, 
there were 134, of whom seven or eight were 
Indians. A School was opened for the reception 
of the daughters of persons in the Hudson's 
Bay Company's service. There were altogether 
four daily Schools, beside Sunday-schools. The 
number of Indian children maintained and edu- 
cated by the Society was about twenty; which 
number might have been almost indefinitely in- 
creased, had the means of procuring subsistence 
for them been less precarious. One pleasing 
fact in illustration of this should be noticed. 
Two Indian boys, who had been brought by 
Governor Simpson in 1825 from beyond the 
Rocky Mountains, went home on a visit to their 
parents, after they had been under instruction for 
about four years. They soon returned, bringing 
with them five other boys, four of whom were 
the sons of four different Chiefs, the heads of 

c 



18 

large Tribes in that part of the country, and 
each speaking a different dialect from the others. 
While this circumstance clearly manifested the 
confidence placed by the Natives there in the 
good faith of the White people, as well as their 
desire for instruction, it could not fail to suggest 
the pleasing anticipation that when these youths 
should return to their own friends, after ha^dng 
been instructed in Christianity, they might be 
made an extensive blessing. And this anticipation 
was not groundless. For when a Missionaiy "vdsit- 
ed those remote districts many years afterward, 
he found a band of Indians prepared to welcome 
his message, having learned to appreciate the 
blessings of the Gospel from one of these youths. 

Erection of a Third Church. 

On the return of jMr. Jones from England, 
another im.portant step was taken in order to 
extend the benefits of pastoral superintendence 
on the banks of the Red River. A considerable 
population, consisting almost entirely of Half- 
breeds, had settled in the neighbourhood of a 
place called Grand Rapids, about fourteen miles 
from the Upper Church, and eight miles below 
what was then the Lower Church. This dis- 



19 

tance obviously precluded them from availing 
themselves of the roinistrations provided in those 
Churches, and at the request of an individual 
who opened his house for the purpose, one or 
other of the Missionaries went down once a fort- 
night to hold a Cottage Lecture, which was 
usually attended by about thirty of the inhabi- 
tants. This ser^-ice was so much valued by the 
people, and appeared to be productive of so many 
beneficial results, that it was arranged that Mr. 
Cockran should take up his residence at Grand 
Rapids. He was now able to hold a regular Ser- 
vice, first in his own house, and afterward in a 
Schoolroom. The number of attendants soon 
became so great that the need of a Church began 
to be urgently felt. 

The manner in which this object was accom- 
phshed was very interesting. The people were 
all poor ; but they " offered willingly" what they 
could, both in money and materials, as well as 
in labour. They first began by collecting stones 
for the foundation. Then he who possessed an 
axe went into the woods to hew timber, which 
was hauled down to the intended site by him 
who possessed an ox, and thus by united efforts, 
and without any extraneous assistance, they 
succeeded in erecting a House of God, the best 

C 2 



20 

building of the kind tliat ' had yet been raised in 
Rupert's Land. 

On occasion of the opening of this Church, 
May 1, 1832, Mr. Cockran wrote — 

It was a day of thankfulness, as well as a spiritual 
feast to us who were present : our cup truly overflowed 
with the remembrance of His goodness to us all the 
time we had been engaged in the work. Not one 
who had been employed in it was detained by sick- 
ness from the dedication : none had paid the debt of 
sin : all were permitted, by the kindness of God, to 
see the object of our prayers and industry devoted to 
His service. 

About this time, Mr. Cockran introduced the 
spinning of flax into a School of Industiy 
which he had previously established. Such an 
occupation was perfectly new to the children, who 
had never witnessed anything of the kind before. 

Formation of the Indian Settlement. 

Some account must now be given of what the 
Bishop in his Journal justly characterizes as a 
'' great and most happy, but, in the first instance, 
most arduous experiment" of endeavouring ^* to 
establish the Natives in settled habitations, and 
in a compact civilized community, as tillers of 
the soil." 



21 

Hitherto tlie labours of the Missionaries had 
been chiefly directed to the European Settlers^ 
and their descendants of mixed blood. Some- 
thing had been effected by occasional intercourse 
with individual Natives ; but^ with the exception 
of the Indian School, no systematic effort had 
been made in their behalf. It was the settled 
conviction of the Missionaries that nothing of a 
decided and permanent character could be effected 
for the religious instruction of the Indians, so 
long as they were compelled to wander about in 
search of a precarious subsistence, and thus were 
prevented from avaihng themselves, for a sufficient 
length of time, of the means of grace, and oppor- 
tunities of instruction. To those, however, who 
were acquainted with the Indian character, the 
very idea of inducing them to give up their erratic 
habits, and heathen customs and prejudices, ap- 
peared altogether visionary. But, formidable as 
the difficulties were, Mr. Cockran resolved to 
encounter them ; and to allow no discouragements, 
which faith and patience could overcome, to deter 
him from prosecuting the undertaking. 

Accordingly, having obtained the permission 
of Governor Simpson to try the experiment of 
locating the Indians near Netley Creek, in the 
neighbourhood of the spot where Pigwys and his 



22 

tribe of Saulteaux were in the habit of pitching 
their tents during the summer, he had several 
interviews with the old Chief, in which he ex- 
plained to him his intentions, and sought to ob- 
tain his consent and co-operation. The distressed 
condition of the tribe during winter was referred 
to, and the advantages of cultivation pointed out. 
Many questions were asked, and objections urged, 
by the Chief — Would they be required to lay 
aside the Indian " medicine ? " Would the Chiefs 
influence be lessened ? The change proposed 
was contrary to the customs of their ancestors, 
which they were unwilling to relinquish. At 
length, however, after repeated consultations 
with the old men of his Tribe, the Chief called 
upon Mr. Cockran, and announced his assent to 
the proposal ; but he would give no encourage- 
ment at all to the idea of estabhshing a School for 
the instruction of the children. 

It was on the 18th of April 1832, when the 
River had scarcely become navigable by the break- 
ing up of the ice, that Mr. Cockran set out to 
select a piece of ground on which to teach the In- 
dians agriculture. The waves were running high, 
the North wind blew keenly, huge blocks of ice, 
piled up by the force of the water, garnished the 
sides of the River, and the whole aspect was chill- 



23 

ing and dreary. On arriving at the Chiefs tent, 
he could not be prevailed upon to expose himself 
to the discomfort of the weather in order to assist 
in the selection. At the distance of from fourteen 
to sixteen miles below Grand Rapids, the land on 
both sides of the River, being low and swampy, 
appeared at this time to be almost inundated by 
the melted snow. The only dry spot was that 
which the Saulteaux usually choose for their sum- 
mer encampment. There were many things 
which rendered it unsuitable as a permanent Set- 
tlement ; but as it was a place to which the Indi- 
ans were attached, and in which there were not 
many difficulties to be overcome in clearing the 
ground, Mr. Cockran fixed upon it as the most 
suitable for his present purpose. 



Commencement of Agricultural and Building 
Operations, 

To this place, on the 3rd of May, Mr. Cockran 
sent two servants, with oxen and agricultural 
implements ; but the Indians had not yet arrived 
from their winter encampment ; and when they 
came, instead of performing their promise to 
prepare the ground, they were holding a conjur- 
ing feast in order to ascertain whether the propo- 



24 

sed change would be beneficial. So great was 
their indifference, that the Chief could not induce 
any of his men to paddle the canoe to Grand Ra- 
pids, to procure an additional supply of the seed- 
corn and potatoes which was intended for their 
own benefit. 

At length, however, seven famihes were indu- 
ced to cultivate a little ; and among them seventy 
bushels of potatoes were planted, and ten bushels 
of barley, and three of wheat, were sown. An 
unpropitious season interfered -^i^dth the produc- 
tiveness of the wheat and potatoes, and afforded 
the Indians a plausible ground for stating that 
they could not be expected to succeed in a course 
which was contrary to the customs and habits of 
their ancestors. The barley yielded an average 
crop, and on the 3rd of September, Mr. Cockran 
went down with seven sickles, and gave the Indi- 
ans some instruction in the art of using them. 
Notwithstanding the awkwardness of their first 
attempts, these new students of agriculture at 
length succeeded in securing the harvest. 

Mr. Cockran's next object was to build a house 
for the Chief. For this purpose, in addition to 
his servant — an old man who could put up the 
frame of a house, but who never felt much in- 
clined to labour — he engaged the services of 



25 

three Indians, who were as Httle accustomed to 
the business of a cai-penter as they were to that 
of a farmer ; a shght blister occasioned by the use 
of a hatchet being* at any time sufficient to induce 
them to lay aside their employment. When this 
house was finished, another was commenced for 
the old man before referred to, who had agreed 
to spend the winter in that place. 

An Indian, whose name signifies Red Deer, 
had been more diligent and successful than the 
others in his -farming operations, and he now 
apphed for assistance to build a house, and a cel- 
lar to contain his produce. A man was engaged 
to assist him, and both laboured diligently till the 
house was completed. 

Another Indian, who belonged to a different 
Tribe, and came from the neighbourhood of Nor- 
way House, followed the same example, having 
obtained a grant of land from the Chief for the 
purpose. This completes the small number of 
those who were wiUing this year to profit by the 
means afforded them for adopting the habits of 
civilized hfe. 



26 



Change in the Locality of the Settlement — Establish- 
ment of a School and Week-day Lecture, 

The little progress thus made, however, was 
sufficient to encourage Mr. Cockran to proceed 
with his benevolent plans. As has been already- 
stated, the place ia which these plans were hither- 
to earned on, originally chosen from its immediate 
vicinity to the Saulteaux encampment, had many 
disadvantages. Several families of other Tribes, 
chiefly Muscaigoes, or Swampy Crees,* had also 
manifested a disposition to settle, and it was un- 
desirable, at present, that they should be brought 
too near the Saulteaux. Accordingly, in the fol- 

* For some time many families of this Tribe had 
been drifting to the Red- River Settlement, on account 
of their having relatives among the Half-breeds who 
resided there. Among these were some very old 
men, one of whom told Mr. Jones that he had left his 
own country, not with a view of bettering his outward 
condition, but because he had heard that One from 
above had come to this world to save the souls of men, 
and he wished to learn something about Him. In 
1832, at the Upper Church, Mr. Jones preached on 
Lord*s-day evenings, through an interpreter, to a 
Congregation of from seventy to eighty of these peo- 
ple, whose regular attendance, and desire to learn, 
gave him much encouragement. 



27 

lowing year, 1833, another ver}' eligible location, 
three miles higher up the Eiver, and about twelve 
miles from Grand Rapids, was selected, on which 
to form a more permanent Settlement. 

To these Indians, as well as to the Sanlteaux, 
Mr. Cockran sent a plough and a pair of oxen, 
some other agricultural implements, and a supply 
of seed-corn and potatoes. All wrought well ; 
the old Chief Pigwys, especially, setting a good 
example to his people by his diligence and perse- 
verance. 

In the autumn, nine small houses were built 
at the new Settlement. Each house was twenty- 
four feet by sixteen, with a cellar for potatoes. 
Mr. Cockran remarked — 

I do not pretend to say that any of these cottages 
were either neat or elegant. The seams of the log- 
walls were plastered with mud; the chimneys were of 
the same material; the roofs were thatched with reeds 
and covered with earth ; the boards of the floors, and 
doors, and beds, were planed with the saw; and the 
windows were formed of parchment made of the skins 
of fishes. 

Each Indian who built a house was supplied 
with clothing, tools, and a more experienced 
man to assist and direct him. Dming this period, 
Mr. Cockran spent several days together at the 



28 

Settlement, and frequently laboured with his own 
hands. 

A Schoolroom, forty feet by twent}% with a 
residence for the Master at one end, and a loft 
above to sei*ve as a granarv', was also completed. 
Lest the children should be dispersed by the 
necessity of searching for food during the winter, 
it was arranged that they should be provided 
with one good meal each day. With this view, 
twenty acres of land at the Rapids were sown 
with wheatj and a fishing party was sent to Lake 
Winnipeg to endeavour to obtain a stock of fish 
for winter consumption. It was also found abso- 
lutely necessary to supply the childi^en with some 
articles of clothing. 

When all these arrangements were made, the 
School was opened on the 25th of November, with 
thirty- two children. ]\Ir. Joseph Cook, whose 
father was an Englishman, and whose mother 
was a Cree-Indian, was appointed Schoolmaster. 
On account of the utter absence of parental con- 
trol among the Indians, it was found exceedingly 
difficult, at first, to maintain any thing like order 
and discipline ; but, by degrees, a marked im- 
provement was obser^'able in this respect. 

Shortly afterward, a week-day Lecture was 
established by Mr. Cockran, in the Schoolroom, 



29 

for the benefit of the adults. The attendance 
at first was small ; but it soon increased, and the 
Lecture became an object of much interest. 

The following spring brought with it the 
usual agricultural operations, and it was encou- 
raging to see the progress which had been made. 
On the 7th of May 1S34, Mr. Cockran ob- 
serv'ed — 

The Indians continue to enlarge their farms. Tlie 
Bay in which we have commenced is all covered with 
persons actively employed — some digging up roots, 
others gathering them ; some sowing wheat, and 
others planting potatoes. How soon the industrious 
hand of man can change the gloomy desert into a 
garden ! The only habitation which this Bay could 
boast of last spring was a solitary tent of Indians 
pitched here for the sake of taking fish. Xow we can 
stand upon the opposite shore, and see the smoke of 
nine chimneys towering to the sky, upward of thirty 
children beguiling away the cheerful hours of the 
morning in innocent mirth before they assemble to 
con their lessons. T^'e can hear the sound of the axe 
and the saw, the cock crowing, the hogs grunting, 
and the ploughman driving his oxen. 

The Saulteaux Indians continued to manifest 
considerable opposition on the subject of having 
their children educated. Mr. Cockran, however, 
at last succeeded in obtaining from them a reluc- 
tant promise of nine children. A new School- 



30 

room was accordingly built, toward the close of 
this year, near the Saulteaux encampment, for 
their especial use ; but when it was finished, the 
children originally promised had departed with 
their parents to their wintering grounds. The 
School, however, was shortly afterward opened 
with five boys. 



First Baptisms at the Settlement — Hopeful Death of 
an Adult Indian. 

Mr. Cockran was this year permitted to see 
fruit far more important than civilization, result- 
ing from his labours. The self-denying rides 
along the bad roads from Grand Rapids to the 
Indian Settlement, in all kinds of weather, in 
order to attend the weekly Meeting which he had 
established, were more than compensated by see« 
ing some of the adults beginning to manifest an 
anxiety respecting their everlasting welfare. On 
the 11th of September he baptized ten adults, 
six children attending the School, and four 
infants. Several of the adults had applied for 
the ordinance ten months previously, and they 
had all given sufficient evidence of their sincerity 
to justify their reception within the pale of the 
visible Church. There was now a small company 



31 

of those who were ''within" to be guided and 
edified, and reminded of their Christian obhgations 
to " shine as Hghts in the world, amidst a crooked 
and perverse generation." 

In httle more than two months afterward, 
another Indian, who had for eighteen months been 
an orderly and improving character, and a regular 
attendant at the weekly meetings, became danger- 
ously ill. He had for some time felt strongly 
inclined openly to avow his faith in Christ ; but 
the furious opposition of his wife and mother had 
hitherto prevailed to hinder him from publicly 
renouncing the customs of his forefathers. In 
the prospect of eternity, however, he fully resolved 
to encounter every opposition, and to profess the 
faith of Christ crucified ; and while the drum of 
the conjurer, employed by his relatives, was 
sounding, he sent for Mr. Cockran, who, amidst 
a volley of abuse from the mother and v>dfe, which 
made the dying man tremble, baptized him, and 
two of his children who belonged to the School, 
He died within three days afterward; and was 
thus the first, in this part of the wilderness, who 
died in the profession of the true faith. It is a 
pleasing fact, that, not many weeks afterward, his 
widow entirely renounced her opposition, and 
became a Christian. 



32 



Establishment of a hordes-day Evening Service, 

In the beginning of 1835, by an arrangement 
with Mr. Jones respecting the duties of the 
Middle Church, Mr. Cockran was enabled to 
commence a service in the Indian Schoolroom on 
Lord's-day evenings. By this means a better 
opportunity was afforded for calling the attention 
of the infant Christian community to the duties 
and privileges of the Lord's-day. The Congre- 
gation continued to increase, and an extract from 
Mr. Cockran' s Journal will show the encourage- 
ment which he derived, both here and at the 
Rapids, from this source — 

May 31, 1835 — I preached, in the morning, at the 
Rapids, to a large and attentive audience. When I 
say large, I mean for this part of the world ; for, as 
we never see a concourse of people except at Cliurch, 
we are liable to more excitement on this head than 
those who frequently cast their eyes over immense 
multitudes. In England, I have often expressed with 
astonishment. What! so many in the market, and so 
few in Church ! Here it is the reverse. On week- 
days, you may travel for miles, and not see a human 
face ; but on the Lord's-day, when you draw near the 
Church at the hour of prayer, the track is covered 
with old and young and middle-aged, pressing for- 
ward to the House of God to pay the weekly tribute 



33 



of praise to the Author of their being. When you 
enter Church, and glance at full 300 individuals 
waiting to join in singing the praises of God, you say 
with astonishment, " This is the Lord's doing ; it is 
marvellous in our eyes." In the afternoon, I visited 
the Indian Settlement, and preached there. The 
School-room was perfectly full, and the weather ex- 
cessively hot. Their heads were well anointed with 
sturgeon oil, which rendered the effluvia of the place 
almost intolerable. I should be exceedingly happy if 
I could teach them to be more cleanly in their persons 
and in their houses ; but, however severe I may be 
upon them respecting their houses, their farms, and 
dirty habits, at their own homes, still, when at Church, 
I take them as they are, and welcome them. 



Further Evidence of Vital Religion, 

That something more than an external appear- 
ance of devotion was to be found among some of 
the poor Indians who thus waited upon the Lord 
in His House, is evident from an interesting 
account, contained in the Church Missionary 
Record for December 1835, of the death of an 
Esquimaux lad, named Colon Leslie, and of the 
expressive and original terms in which an older 
Indian described the difficulties which he met with 
in his religious course, plainly showing that he 



34 

was no stranger to spiritual religion as a matter 
of experience. 

Erection of a Flour-mill. 

In temporal things, also, another advance was 
made this year. Air. Cockran mentioned the 
pleasure which it gave him to see *' an Indian 
ploughing his ground, with his own plough and 
ox ; and his daughter driving it." The quantity of 
corn raised in the Indian Settlement was now 
so considerable, that the want of a mill to grind 
it began to be very greatly felt ; and after encoun- 
tering many difficulties, the indefatigable perse- 
verance of Mr. Cockran succeeded in accomphsh- 
ing this object. A new impulse seemed now to 
be given to the Indian character. Mr. Cockran, 
describing a visit which he made to the Indian 
Settlement on one occasion, remarked — 

It seems quite in a bustle to-day. Some were 
carrying the wheat to the mill upon their backs ; 
others were hauling it, with oxen, upon sledges. The 
mill was gliding steadily round, driven by a north- 
wind. I found 12 persons waiting for their flour. The 
grist-mill is the most conspicuous mark of civilization 
that we have planted in this rude waste, audits bene- 
ficial effect is strikingly felt by the savage. He seems 



35 

all at once stimulated to develope a new character. 
On the blowing of the wind he is out with his wheat 
to winnow ; gets it into his bag, runs to the mill, and 
stands in eager expectation of his turn. When once 
it is in the hopper, and the stones at work, he handles 
it as it falls into the box, to see if it be well ground. 
I thought it scarcely possible so to rouse the Indian's 
drowsy powers. 



Rebuilding of the Upper Church — 
Establishment of Schools. 

While this remarkable transition from barbar- 
ism to civilization was taking place in the Indian 
Settlement, Mr. Jones was successfully prosecut- 
ing his ministerial labours among the more mixed 
population of the upper part of the Colony. The 
Congregations at the Upper and Middle Churches 
consisted of about 800 or 900, including children, 
and the number of Communicants amounted to 
about 130. The first Church, though reflecting 
great credit on the zeal and exertions of Mr. 
West, and of all who were concerned in its erec- 
tion, being built of logs, was fast going to decay, 
and it was found necessary to erect a more sub- 
stantial edifice of stone. This object was accom- 
plished by a liberal subscription on the part of 
the Settlers, aided bv a munificent e;"rant from the 

D 2 



36 

Hudson' s-Bay Company, and a smaller grant from 
the Church Missionary Society. The building 
was opened for Divine Service on the 26th of 
November 1834. It is capable of accommodating 
comfortably 700 people, and 1000 might find room 
without being over-crowded. 

Five Day-schools, containing about 400 chil- 
dren, had been established ; beside two Semina- 
ries for children of persons engaged in the ser- 
vice of the Hudson' s-Bay Company, which were 
under the care and superintendence of Mr. and 
Mrs. Jones, assisted by a Tutor and Governess 
from England. At the different Sunday-schools, 
also, nearly 300 received religious instruction. 
Moreover, the orderly demeanour, moral conduct, 
and religious habits, of all classes, were, for the 
most part, satisfactory and cheering. 

Trials of the Mission — Death of Mrs. Jones, 

The year 1836 was a season of heavy trial to 
the whole Mission. A severe frost, which oc- 
curred in the middle of August, completely de- 
stroyed the wheat crops and all garden seeds. 
The buffalo hunters returned from the plains with 
empty carriages. The Company's ship, after hav- 
ing landed her passengers at York Fort, was 



37 

driven out of Hudson's Bay by a severe storm, 
and compelled to return to England without hav- 
ing been able to land her cargo or to receive any 
despatches ; and thus the Mission was obliged to 
remain another year without communications from 
home, and supplies of various kinds which were 
urgently needed. But a loss, still more deeply 
felt, occurred by the sudden removal of Mrs. 
Jones in the midst of her usefulness ; lea^'ing Mr. 
Jones a bereaved widower, and five children mo- 
therless. 

In the midst of these complicated difficufeies 
and sorrows, however, there were some impor- 
tant and soothing alleviations. The barley har- 
vest was good, and the potatoes not altogether 
unproductive. The quantity of cattle which the 
people possessed, and the large stock of old grain 
which was in the hands of several, enabled them 
to pass the winter without much inconvenience. 
The sympathy and sensibility called forth by the 
death of Mrs. Jones, was exceedingly touching. 
When Mr. Cockran, immediately on receiving the 
melancholy intelligence, set out to \'isit his afilict- 
ed brother, every one he met was equally discon- 
solate — ' ' a shake by the hand, a few faltering 
words, a deep sigh, and a flood of tears, were all 
that passed/' Her loss was regarded by the 



38 

whole Protestant population as the heaviest of that 
trying season. Their language was, " Our crops 
have. been smitten by the frost ; our suppUes are 
cut oiF by the non-arrival of the ships : seed-time 
and harvest will come again : a new summer may 
bring another ship ; but Mrs. Jones will never re- 
turn ! '' Among the Roman Catholic population, 
also, there was a feeling of sympathy, and even 
the untutored savage showed, by his silent grief, 
that he had lost a friend. 



Illustrations of the Effect of the Gospel, 

Many interesting instances might be adduced 
to illustrate the power of religion in influencing 
the minds, and improving the characters, of vari- 
ous classes of the population ; but two accounts 
must now suffice. The first is a narrative, related 
by Mr. Jones, of the death of an Indian boy who 
had been educated at the Indian Sdhool, and bap- 
tized by the name of Jack Spense. Mr. Jones 
observed in his Journal, under the date June 26, 
1836— 

I found him dying of consumption, and in a state 
of the most awful poverty and destitution, in a small 
birch-rind covered hut, with nothing but a few fern- 
leaves under him, and an old blanket over him, 



39 



which was in a condition not to he described. After 
recovering from my surprise, I said, '' My poor boy, 
I am very sorry to find you in this state : had you let 
me know, you should not have been lying here." He 
replied, '* It is very little I want now, and these poor 
people get it me ; but I should like something softer 
to lie upon, as my bones are very sore." I then asked 
him concerning the state of his mind ; when he 
replied, that he was very happy ; that Jesus Christ, 
the Lord of Glory, had died to save him, and that he 
had the most perfect confidence in Him. Observing 
a small Bible under the corner of his blanket, I said, 
*' Jack, you have a friend there : I am glad to see 
that; I hope you find something good there." Weak 
as he was, he raised himself on his elbow, held it in 
his attenuated hand, while a smile played on his 
countenance, and slowly spoke, in precisely the fol- 
lowing words — ** This, Sir, is my dear friend. You 
gave it me, when we all went down to live at Mr. 
Cockran's. For a long time I read it much, and often 
thought of what it told. Last year, I went to see my 
sister at Lake Winnipeg" — about 200 miles off— 
" where I remained about two months. When I was 
half-way back through the Lake, I remembered that 
I had left my Bible behind me. I directly turned 
round, and was nine days by myself, tossing to and 
fro, before I could reach the house ; but I found my 
friend, and determined that I would not part with it 
again ; and ever since it has been near my breast, 
and I thought I should have buried it with me ; but 
I have thought since, I had better give it to you 



40 

when I am gone, and it may do some one else good." 
He was often interrupted by a sepulchral cough, and 
sank down exhausted. I read and prayed, the hut 
hardly affording me room to be upright, even when 
kneeling. The evening sun was pouring its rays 
through the holes in the bark-covered hut : and I 
could not but mentally exclaim, on coming away, 
What a scene for the pen of a Legh Richmond ! 

The other instance of the influence of divine 
grace, although it occurred four years later, may- 
be here introduced. It will be seen in the fol- 
lowing eloquent and pathetic advice given by an 
Indian father to his son, who was setting out on a 
long and hazardous journey. Mr. Cockran wrote, 
in his Journal — 

/w/2/.26, 1840 — I returned home, in company with 
a Native whose son had gone on a long journey, near 
to the Rocky Mountains. I was delighted to find that 
he had sent his son off with the most pressing 
injunction that he would pray to God at least twice 
every day, and read the Bible as often as he might 
have an opportunity. He said, *' My son, as long as 
you have been in my house you have seen me pray ; 
let this put you in mind that there is a Being, whom 
w^e cannot see, who gives us all things. You go to 
Church : there you hear that this Great Being, whom 
wicked men hate, and are afraid of, is Love. When 
you go through the plains, you will not see me 
praying; you will not hear that God is Love. There 



41 

you will meet with men whose hearts are cruel ; who 
will stand up against you; who have no pity: they 
would drive an arrow through your heart ; they would 
take your scalp from your head, and drink your blood. 
My son, when night comes on, before you close your 
eyes, ask Him who draws the darkness round you to 
look and pity you, and spread His hand over you; 
for you are alone, far from home, and have no other 
friend but Him. When morning comes, and your 
eyes first see the light, thank the Best of all Beings 
for His protection ; and ask Him to go with you on 
your journey, to turn men who have bad hearts on 
one side, that they may not meet you. Should you 
be in danger, never forget that **the blood of Jesus 
Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." Trust in it : 
God has accepted of it as the sacrifice for your soul; 
and through this, you and I may meet in heaven/' 
The father said to me : " My heart was light and 
happy when I saw my son take his Bible and some 
Tracts ; and when he squeezed my hand, with the 
tears in his eyes, and said, * I will remember Him 
who is over us all, till I meet you again.' " 



Progress of the Indian Settlement, 

The number of Indians who embraced Chris- 
tianity at the Indian Settlement was constantly- 
increasing. On the 24th of December 1836, five 
Native women were baptized, one of whom had 
come a distance of 90 miles to seek admission in- 



42 

to the Church ; and this at a season when the 
thermometer was 25° below zero. About this 
time there were 47 Christian famihes, comprising 
^bout 260 individuals. The School-room having 
become much too small to accommodate the Con- 
gregation, Mr. Cockran found it necessary to build 
a Church. In the prosecution of this object he 
was hberally supported by the more affluent in- 
habitants of the upper part of the Colony, and 
the Congregation at the Rapids were especially 
foi*ward in rendering their aid. Altogether, about 
95/. 155. was contributed, in labom% produce, or 
cash. In this Church many faults, which had 
been committed from inexperience in building the 
other Churches, were avoided. Its size is about 
54 feet by 24, and it will accommodate about 300 
persons. The day on which it was opened, Janu- 
ary 4, 1837, was exceedingly cold and tempestu- 
ous ; but the Church was quite full, all the Offi- 
cers of the Hudson' s-Bay Company, as well as 
several of the Settlers, being present.* 

* A description of the locality of the Indian Settle- 
ment, and of the interesting appearance of the Church, 
is contained in the S9th Report, pp. 123, 124. Vide 
Frontispiece. 



43 



Return of Mr. Jones to England — Appeal for 
more Missionaries, and Arrival out of the Rev. 
J. SmitJiurst. 

In 1838, Mr. Jones was compelled by domestic 
circumstances, as well as by the state of his 
health, to visit England. He intended to return 
to his labours ; but it pleased God to order 
otherwise. He gradually became weaker, and 
in October 1844 he was taken away from this 
world of sin and suffering. 

When Mr. Jones left the Red River, he was 
the bearer of several letters and messages to the 
Committee, urging, vAth. affectionate earnestness, 
the importance of sending out additional Missio- 
naries to them. After service at the Indian 
Church, on the 9th of August, the old Chief 
Pigw}'s came to Mr. Jones, and said, '* I send 
by you a letter to the Missionary men in England : 
teU them not to forget me ; I want the ^yord of 
Life to be always spoken in my land.'^ Another 
Indian, who appeared to take the lead among the 
Muscaigoes, sent a similar message : adding, with 
much vehemence of gesture, '' Tell them to make 
haste : time is short, and Death is snatching away 
our friends and relations very fast : tell them to 
make haste,'^ 



44 

In allusion to the efforts made by the Church. 

of Rome, the Indians, in their general letter, made 

the following affectmg appeal — 

''Mr, Jones is now going to leave us. Mr. Cockran 
is talking of leaving us. Must we turn to our idols 
and gods again? or must we turn to the French 
Praying-masters for protection and assistance, where 
a good few of our children and relatives are gone to? 
We see not less than three French Prayings masters 
have arrived in the River, and not one for us. What 
is this, our friends? The Word of God says, that one 
soul is worth more than all the world. Surely, then, 
our friends, 300 souls are worthy of one Praying-mas- 
ter.'' 

Tills appeal, taken in connexion with the solitary 
condition of Mr. Cockran, who had to di^nde his 
labours among the Congregations of four Churches, 
was hresistible ; and accordingly, the Rev. J. 
Smithurst was appointed to this Mission. He 
amved at the Red River in September 1839, and 
with a praiseworthy eagerness to be among the 
people committed to his charge, took up his resi- 
dence at the Indian Settlement even before the 
house which was being prepared for his reception 
was completed. 



45 



Present Condition of the Indian Settlement. 

The advantage of having a resident ^Minister, 
as might be expected, has been very great. Each 
succeeding year has exhibited a marked improve- 
ment, both in the temporal and spiritual ^ con- 
dition of the Christian Indians : their numbers 
are constantly increasing by the addition of new 
famihes, desirous of ci^-ibzation, and inquiz*ing after 
Christianity : and the testimony of several com- 
petent witnesses, acquainted with the Indian 
character, and experienced in the country, has 
been of the same satisfactory tenour as that which 
the Bishop has borne in his valuable letters. 

In the winter of 1844 — 5 a new farmhouse 
was finished, and the Mission Establishment^ thus 
completed, serves as a model to the Indians. A 
year later a new windmill was erected, the one 
built by Mr. Cockran having become unser^dcea- 

* One interesting fact, mentioned by Mr. Smithurst 
in 1840, must not be omitted — 

When the Christian Indians are out on a hunting excur- 
sion, they usually spend the Lord's-day together, and abstain 
entirely from the chase. One of them is in the hahit of read- 
ing the Church-service; and after singing, they all talk over 
what they can rememher of the Word of God taught them 
either in Church or in School. 



46 

ble. The erection of this mill induced the Indians 
to make considerable efforts toward enlarging their 
farms. 

Dming the last year or two it has pleased God 
greatly to try the faith and patience both of the 
Missionary and his people. In August and Sep- 
tember 1846 dysentery prevailed to an alarming 
extent, and proved fatal in a great many cases. 
Nearly twenty of the Sunday- scholars died. The 
crops of the same year were almost a total failure. 
Whole families were obhged to leave the Settle- 
ment for weeks together, to catch fish in Lake 
Winnipeg. Great efforts were made by them, 
however, to be at the Settlement on the Lord's- 
day, and to keep their children at School. Mr, 
Smithurst writes — 

I have often seen the poor children, on leaving 
School, go to the river, and sit there angling till sun- 
set in order to catch a few small fish called gold- 
eyes, which have scarcely an ounce of which is eat- 
able upon them. 

In the year 1847 — 48 the Indians continued 
to suffer greatly from scarcity, and so many were 
obliged to leave the Settlement, for a time, as 
considerably to interfere with the regular atten- 
dance both at Church and School. The prospects 



47 

of the harvest, however, were in August last pro- 
mising, so that we trust the Settlement will re- 
sume its usual aspect. 

Mr. Smithurst states, in his Report for the 
year ending August 1, 1848, that the English 
Morning Sersdce is attended, when all the Indians 
are at home, by about 350 ; and the Indian After- 
noon Service by from 80 to 130. There is also 
a Service on \yednesday Evening in the School- 
room, which under favourable circumstances is 
well attended. The number of Communicants is 
86. In February ]\Ir. Cook, the Schoolmaster, 
died, his place being occupied by his son. The 
number of Scholars on the books is 68, 35 boys 
and 33 girls. The Sunday-school consists of 36 
Adults in addition to the Day-scholars. On the 
whole, Mr. Smithurst says, *' there are many 
marks of improvement, in a rehgious, moral, and 
civil point of view. If there be much to discou- 
rage, and to try both faith and patience, there is 
much over which we ought to rejoice.'^ 

Arrival of the Rev. A. Cowley and Mr. J. 
Roberts — Return of Mr. Roberts. 

In 1841, the band of Missionary labourers was 
strengthened by the addition to their number of 



48 

the Rev. A. Cowley, and Mr. J, Roberts. Mr. 
Roberts returned to this country after two years' 
labour as a Catechist. Mr. Cowley was at first 
engaged in assisting Mr. Cockran in the Upper 
Settlement, and afterward in superintending the 
formation of a new Station at Manitoba Lake, 
of which an account is given below. 

Arrangements for the Upper, Middle^ and Lower 
Churches — Building of a New Church at the 
Rapids — Arrival of the Rev, R, James, 

By the ordination of Mr. J. M'Allum, M.A., 
during the Bishop's visit, as Assistant Chaplain 
to the Hudson's Bay Company, it was hoped that 
the duties of the Upper Church were provided for. 
Very shortly, however, his health failed, and the 
Church was necessarily closed for three weeks. 
He was subsequently able to take the duty occa- 
sionally ; and on the other Sundays, Mr. Cockran 
officiated at both the Upper and Middle Churches, 
and Mr. Smithurst at the Indian Settlement and 
the Lower Church. Under this arrangement these 
two Missionaries had each to ride twenty-six miles 
during the day ; but it was the only course open 
to them, except closing the Upper Church. 

The insufficient accommodation afforded in the 



49 

Lower Chm*cli is noticed in the Bishop's Letters 
and had heen strongly felt also by the Missionaries, 
The love of the people for the ordinances of God's 
house had not abated since their erection of the 
first Church,"^ as will be seen by the following 
account taken from ]Mr. Cochran's Journal — 

Dec. 31, 1S44 — I held a Meeting for the purpose of 
ascertaining what means we could raise for building 
a stone Church. Almost all the males attended. I 
addressed them on the zeal and liberality of the Chil- 
dren of Israel, when it was proposed to build the 
Tabernacle. If Moses found a willing people, the 
present assembly were equally so. Silver and gold 
they had none ; but stones, lime, shingles, boards, 
timber, and labour, were cheerfully contributed, and 
to such an amount as perfectly astonished me. Never, 
since the day of Pentecost, was self so completely 
conquered. The shingle-makers proposed to give 
10,000 shingles each, and the lime-burners 400 bush- 
els of lime each. The mason proposed to dress the 
stones for one corner, and lay them, gratis. Boards 
and timber were promised in the same liberal man- 
ner. One black curly-head, descended from the line 
of Ham by his father's side, stood up in his leather 
coat, and said, " I shall give 10/." The eyes of all were 
turned toward him, and a smile played upon every 
countenance. I said, 'M believe our brethren think 
you are too poor to raise such a sum."' He said, 
raising his arm, " Here is my body : it is at your ser- 

* Vide pp. IS— 20. 



50 

vice. It is true, I can neither square a stone nor lay 
one ; but there will be the floor and the roof: turn me 
to them, and then you will see, if God give me life 
and health, that the value of the sum shall be raised." 
In materials and labour above 700/. were promised. 

The foundation of a stone Church was at once 
commenced, and the corner-stone was laid by ]Mr. 
Smithurst on the 4tli of July 1845. Its dimen- 
sions are 8I|- feet by 40 within thie walls, and 
there will be a gallery at the west end. The 
tower is 20 feet square, and its base admits of a 
commodious porch. At the beginning of August 
last, the roof was finished, and all the stone-work ; 
the spire and the interior remaining incomplete. 
It was to be opened in a few months. 

For some years the health of !Mr. Cockran had 
b-een seriously failing, and he was at length com- 
pelled to retire from the post which he had so 
long and so usefully held. He preached his 
farew^ell sermon at the Lower (or Grand Rapids) 
Church on the 14th of June 1846, on which occa- 
sion ]\Ir. Cowley, being od a visit to the Settle- 
ment, thus writes^ — 

Never do I expect to forget the last look which 
some of the people gave their pastor as they retired 
from the Church, in which, from its very first rearing, 



51 

they had heard, with so much pleasure and profit 
the voice of him whom now, proceeding to their 
homes at a distance, they looked upon to see no more 
for ever. Their hearts were too full for words : the 
only utterance their feelings could obtain was in a 
flood of tears, as each walked up, silently embraced 
his hand, and turned away. 

On the next day Mr. Cockran and his family 
left the Settlement for Canada. 

To provide for the vacancy thus occasioned, the 
Rev. R. James was sent out in the summer of 
1846. He and Mrs. James arrived at the Settle- 
ment in the beginning of October, and shortly 
took up their residence at the Grand Rapids. Of 
the nev^' Church ]Mr. James wrote on his arrival — 

It is a noble building — by far the best in Prince 
Rupert's Land. iJany poor men here, in their godly 
enthusiasm, have given donations of 10/., and, to pay 
it, have forestaked two years' wages. 

And in a Report to August 1847 he states — 

I have never yet seen, in the present Church, a 
vacant seat on the Lord's-day. Be the weather what 
it may, rain or snow, storm or sunshine, frozen mer- 
cury or fever heat, the Church is more than full. 
Many have to walk five or six miles each way, and 
that often, in winter, through two or three feet of 

E 2 



52 

snow. Several families, living between the Rapids 
and Middle Churches, attend both, and in doing so 
perform a journey of sixteen miles. 

His last Report, to August 1848, exhibits a 
steady progress in the various branches of his 
charge. 

Contrary to expectation, Mr. Cockran's health 
VN^as so much improved by a year's residence in 
Canada, that he considered it to be his duty to 
return to the scene of his former labours. He 
arrived at the Settlement on the 3ist of July 
1847, and undertook the duties of the Upper 
Church, &c., as Chaplain to the Hudson' s-Bay 
Company. Although Mr. Cockran has been thus 
engaged in ministering to the Settlers rather than 
in direct Missionarv work, the Mission will derive 
great benefit from his presence and counsel, his 
thorough acquaintance with the Indian character, 
and the weight of his influence throughout the 
Settlement. 

Formation of the Cumherland Station — Appoint- 
ment to it of the Rev. J. Hunter y and his Arrival, 

In 1839, the Committee had the satisfaction 
to find that the Hudson's-Bay Company were 



53 

disposed to countenance and promote the forma- 
tion of a Missionary Station at Cumberland 
House, one of their Posts, about 500 miles from 
the Red River. The financial chcumstances of 
the Society prevented the Committee from avail- 
ing themselves of this opening to the extent 
which they desired. In order, however, that 
some beginning might be made, Mr. Henry Budd, 
who had been for some time in connexion with 
the Society as a Schoolmaster, was sent to that 
neighbourhood in June 1840. When he had 
been labouring for about a year, he was enabled 
to send home an encouraging account of the 
success which had attended his exertions. After 
the lapse of another year, the Rev. J. Smithurst 
was anxious to visit the infant Station, with a 
view to strengthen Mr. Budd's hands, and to 
baptize such as might be prepared for that ordi- 
nance. This desire was increased by his receiving 
a communication, through ]\ir. Budd, from the 
Indians of that district, earnestly requesting him 
to visit them. As the journey occupied twenty- 
six days, Mr. Smithurst' s joy may be well 
imagined when the guide made the pleasing 
announcement, ''Mr. Budd's place is just behind 
that point of wood." A few minutes brought him 



54 

within sight of the infant Mis-sion EstabHshment, 
which he thus described — 

The School-house in the centre, Mr. Budd's house 
on the South side, and the children's house on the 
North, appeared respectable buildings ; and struck 
me as reflecting very great credit upon Mr. Budd's 
industr3\ A gentle slope from the houses toward the 
river appeared to have been cleared, but not fenced ; 
and in the rear, a neat square field was fenced in, 
and under cultivation. 

Our boat was soon observed, and the School-child- 
ren flocked down to the beach to welcome our arrival. 
Their appearance was highly satisfactory, consider- 
ing the short time which had intervened since they 
were taken from their native woods. Notwithstanding 
the unfavourable circumstances under which we ar- 
rived, amid a deluge of rain, the first impression 
upon my mind was so pleasing, that I quite forgot 
the tediousness of twenty-six days' travelling through 
a solitary wilderness. 

The School was found to contain thirty-one 
Indian children, all neat and clean. On examina- 
tion, it appeared that they had made veiy good 
progress in learning. There were but few adult 
Indians at the Station when Mr. Smithurst arri- 
ved^ because they were necessarily engaged in 
procuring subsistence, at a fishing-place about a 
day's journey off; but he was informed that they 



55 

would not fail to reach the Station on Saturday, 
according to their regular custom. Accordingly, 
on that day he wrote — 

In the afternoon, a whole fleet of canoes made 
their appearance, and formed a most pleasing scene. 
The party, consisting of from sixty to seventy persons, 
pitched their tents alongside the Mission Establish- 
ment, in order to attend the services of the Lord's- 
day. This was indeed one of the most cheering sights 
I ever witnessed ; and called forth feelings of the 
deepest gratitude to God, that He should have in- 
clined the hearts of so many to seek after the way of 
salvation. 

Up to a late hour on Saturday evening, as well 
as on the following morning, Mr. Smithurst was 
engaged in a close examination of the Candidates 
for Baptism individually. He reported, that 
'' the result of the examinations was highly 
satisfactory." 

June 26, 1842, is a day much to be remem.ber- 
ed in the annals of this Mission. In the after- 
noon, Mr. Smithurst had the privilege of ad- 
mitting into the Church of Christ, by Baptism, 
eighty-five Indians ; of whom thirty-eight were 
adults, and the remaining forty- seven their 
children. 

In the summer of 1843, Mr. Budd reported 



that the eighty-five baptized Indians continued 
stedfast in the faith, and manifested an increasing 
desire after divine things ; and that there were 
fifty-eight Candidates for Baptism awaiting the 
arrival of a Clergyman. The urgent need of an 
ordained Missionary for this interesting Station 
was met by the appointment of the Rev. J. Hunter, 
who with Mrs. Hunter arrived at York Fort in 
August 1844, and at their Station on the 26th of 
September. Mr. Hunter writes — 

On landing from the boat, a great number of In- 
dians, who had for some time been waiting mj^ arri- 
val, came to bid us welcome ; and we could imme- 
diatel}' perceive, from their manner and address, that 
we were not surrounded by Heathen, but by Christian 
Brethren. 

Mr. Hunter immediately addressed himself to 
the examination of the Candidates for Baptism, 
and did not discover any to whom he could not 
conscientiously administer that sacrament. On 
the first Lord's-day after his arrival he baptized 
31 adults and 35 children. He states — 

I had previously arranged that thej^ sbould come 
up for Baptism by households, and a most interesting 
and delightful scene it was to see the father and mo- 
ther, with their children, approach the font to receive 
this sacred ordinance. All was breathless attention, 



57 

many a tear was shed, and both old and young ap- 
peared to be affected by the solemn Service. 

Thus at this Station there were now 150 Chris- 
tian Converts, who, four years previously, had 
been all Heathen, and had never heard the '' glad 
tidings" of the Gospel. When it is considered 
that Mr. Budd was one of the first Indian boys 
consigned to Mr. West's care in ] 820, it will be 
seen that this account furnishes a most striking 
illustration of the value of Native Agency. 

Progress of the Cumberland Station. 

Mr. Hunter entered upon his work with vigour, 
amid manifest tokens of the blessing of the Lord. 
The whole number baptized by him in the first 
year of his residence amounted to 59 adults and 
68 children ; in the next year 62 persons, in the 
next, 32 adults and 53 children, and in the year 
ending August 1848, 22 adults and 43 children 
were added to the number. The total number 
baptized in connexion with the Station, by Mr. 
Smithurst and Mr. Hunter, has amounted to 424. 
The Chief of the place was baptized on Easter 
Sunday 1847. 

In his last Report Mr. Hunter states that 
many proofs existed to justify the conclusion 



58 

that the work of grace commenced among the 
Indians was of a permanent character. '' In 
spiritual matters," he says, '^we have had abun- 
dant cause to rejoice, and ample encouragement 
to prosecute with greater earnestness than ever 
our ' work of faith and labour of love' both among 
our own people and the surrounding heathen." 
The Indians are very devout and attentive during 
the Services, and very anxious that their children 
should be baptized. 

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first 
administered in October 1844, the number of 
Indian Communicants being 12. On Easter Sun- 
day 1848 the following entry occurs in Mr. Hun- 
ter's Journal — 

At the Services to-day the Schoolroom was com- 
pletely filled with Christian Indians, about 150 being 
present. During the past week the Indians have been 
coming in from all quarters to attend the Services of 
this season, and to be present at the Communion. 
After the Morning Service, it was my privilege to 
administer the Lord's Supper to 51 Communicants, 
being the largest number that have ever attended at 
this Station. I have every reason to believe that the 
majority of these Communicants are sincere and de- 
vout Christians, living consistently with the blessed 
Gospel of Christ, and endeavouring to adorn their 
profession by a pious walk and conversation. 



59 

Several Indians, wlio liave died since Mr. 
Hunter's residence at the Station, have given 
good evidence that they died '' in the Lord." 

There are a Day and Sunday-school at the Sta- 
tion^ conducted by Mr. Budd under Mr. Hunter's 
superintendence. In the Day-school the number 
of children on the books is 85, of whom 25 read 
in the Old or New Testaments. In the Sunday- 
school there are 12 adults and 2 children in 
addition to the Day-scholars. The attendance at 
both Schools is very good during the summer, 
when the parents are about the Mission Establish- 
ment ; but during the w^inter, fi'om the want of 
provisions and other causes, it is more irregular. 

During 1845 — 6 a commodious dwelling-house 
was erected, and the farm greatly enlarged. In 
the spring of 1 848 ten bushels and ahalf of wheat, 
and six bushels of barley, were sown, and about 
16 bushels of potatoes planted. At the begin- 
ning of August Mr. Hunter reports that the crops 
were '• looking remarkably weU, and promising 
an abundant harvest.'^ 

For some time the want of a Church had been 
greatly felt, and on the 11th of September 1847 
Mr. Hunter writes in his Journal — 



60 

I called a meeting of the Indians, and invited them 
to subscribe toward the erection of a Church. They 
responded to niy invitation, not in money, it is true, 
but in work. The Chief gave a horse, and the sub- 
scriptions amounted altogether to 28/. 

Before the close of the summer the frame of 
the Church had been put up, and during the vv'in- 
ter the beams, &c.,. were prepared, and hauled to 
the banks of the river about 30 miles above the 
Station. At the beginning of August last, by the 
assistance of the Indians, the wood had been rafted 
down^ and was lying close to the frame of the 
Church. Mr. Hunter hoped to complete the 
'* logging " of the building before the ^svinter 
set in. 

We must not omit to record what has been 
done by the Indians themselves toward leading a 
settled and civilized life. Their efforts in this 
respect are peculiarly interesting, as it is well 
known how deeply rooted is their love for a wan- 
dering and, as they deem it, an independent life. 
That their condition in such circumstances is really 
one of degradation and misery, is testified by all 
who are acquainted with them. 

In his Report for the year ending August 1S46 
Mr. Hunter vvTOte — 



61 

Several of the Christian Indians have commenced 
new farms, and those who had farms have enlarged 
them ; so that an entire island, of tolerable size, is 
under cultivation with potatoes. About ten have 
commenced preparing wood for houses ; and one 
house, which will make the fifth Indian house, is 
now being erected. Several of the Indians have also 
wheat, barley, turnips, peas, &c., growling on their 
farms. 

And again, a year later — 

The frames of four houses have been put up by the 
Indians, and are now being logged. Several Indians 
are away, cutting wood for houses, which they intend 
to raft down the river. On their farms are growing 
excellent crops of wheat, barley, potatoes, and tur- 
nips ; and some of them have horses, cattle, and pigs. 
They are now dressed in European clothes, and are 
abandoning their native indolence, and adopting more 
active and industrious habits. Many of them are 
excellent sawyers and squarers, and are able very 
materially to assist the carpenter in the erection of 
our new buildings. As in spiritual, so in temporal 
things, a great change is taking place among these 
Indians : this strikes me the more forcibly when I 
visit Heathen Indians, who have not had the like 
privileges. 

We cannot refrain from giving one instance of 
the '' great change " referred to above. Mr. 
Hunter records, in his Journal— 



62 

flan* 5, 1847 — I went, with Mrs. Hunter, to visit 
Charles Cook, the Rocky-Lake Chief, at his farm, 
about six miles from hence. The old man is now re- 
siding in a house which he has recentlj^ erected, in 
v/hich we found a cheerful fire blazing, and his fa- 
mily seated around the hearth. They appeared to be 
both surprised and delighted Avith our visit, and the 
old man seated us near the fire. He has put up the 
house very well, and has a nice cellar in which he 
keeps his potatoes secure from the frost. Adjoining 
is another house, in which he keeps a pig that I gave 
him, and I have promised to supply him with a calf 
shortly : his sons lately purchased a horse for him. 
He has a large family, and was one of the first here 
who embraced Christianity. Before leaving we sang 
a hymn together, and engaged in prayer to our com- 
mon Father. Suspended on the trees outside the 
house were the skins of foxes — one a silver fox — and 
martens, the produce of the winter's hunt. 



Death of Mrs. Hunter. 

In the midst of the prosperity thus attendant 
on the Mission, it pleased God to call Mrs. Hun- 
ter to Himself. The intense cold appears to have 
been too much for her constitution, and induced, 
or at least developed, consumption. She died on 
the 20th of November 1 847 . Her husband writes — 

She was much beloved by the Indians for hei 



63 

affability and kindness. She embraced every oppor- 
tunity of speaking to them for their temporal and 
spiritual good, and they all appear to feel that they 
have lost a kind friend : they all gathered around her 
grave, and wept for her as for their sister. 

Formation and Progress of a branch Station at 
Lac-Ia-Ronge» 

On several occasions Mr. Hunter had observed 
that a desire for instruction prevailed among the 
Rapid-River Indians. One of the earliest notices 
of this fact occurs in his Journal of May 1845, 
when an Indian and his family presented them- 
selves for Christian instruction, having travelled, 
about 400 miles to obtain it. This man left his 
home in the autumn, and continued journeying in 
his canoe until the rivers were locked by the win- 
ter. He hunted until the spring, w^hen he resumed 
his voyage, the desire for instruction remaining 
urgent within him. 

A month later, while on a visit to Cumberland 
Fort, Mr. Hunter met with two other Indians 
from the Rapid-River, who were then on their 
way to Cumberland Station for further instruction 
than they had been able to gain from the visits of 
Christian Indians to them. On this occasion Mr. 
Hunter relates the way in which the Rapid-River 



64 

Indians had become anxious to know more of 
Christianity — 

Some two or three years ago, one of these Indians, 
Great Chief, visited the Pas [Mr. Hunter's Station] 
for instruction ; and, after remaining there some time, 
procured some initiatory books and tracts from Henry 
Budd, and left for the purpose of returning home, 
with the laudable intention of endeavouring to com- 
municate a little of that instruction which he had found 
so profitable to himself. From that period up to the 
present time he has steadily kept this object in view, 
occasionally visiting the Pas for the pvu'pose of obtain- 
ing further instruction, and returning to his country- 
men to dispense it; and so desirous were the Indians 
to listen to the message of salvation, although im- 
parted by so inadequate an instrument, that they 
have kept him up four nights in succession, listening 
to the truths of the Gospel from his lips. Party after 
party would enter his tent, and, after retiring for a 
short time for refreshment and repose, would return 
again to obtain further information. Their cry is, 
" Send us a Teacher : we are poor and ignorant : have 
pity, then, on our poverty and our ignorance, and 
teach us the blessings of salvation." 

Impressed v^dth the great importance of the 
opening, Mr. Hunter prevailed on James Beardy, 
one of his best-instructed Indians, at once to pro- 
ceed to a place near the Rapid River, called Lac- 
la-Ronge, about 200 miles from the Cumberland 



65 

Station. In a Letter dated September 2, 1845, 
Beardy wrote to Mr. Hunter — 

I feel a pleasure in endeavouring to follow your 
instructions who sent me into this neighbourhood. 
The Indians here are so desirous of instruction in the 
Christian Religion that they will not allow me to go 
back : therefore I have determined to pass the winter 
among them. They told me that it was the first time 
they had heard the good words of salvation. 

Be so good as to write me a few lines by the first 
opportunity, and tell me the way I must go on with 
the Natives ; and I shall always try my best to per- 
form your orders. 

In May 1846, Heche Hookemow, or the Great 
Chief, referred to above, visited the Cumberland 
Station — principally for baptism, to which ordi- 
nance he and his family were admitted on the 7tb 
of June. 

On the 1 6th of June, Beardy returned to the 
Cumberland Station from Lac-la-Ronge, bringing 
witb him a family of Indians for instruction and 
baptism. On the next day Mr. Hunter writes— 

Conversing with Beardy and the Rapid-River In- 
dians who arrived yesterday. The account which 
Beardy gives is most encouraging. There are twenty 
families waiting the arrival of a Christian Teacher. 
He has engaged in prayer with them daily, and on 



66 

Lord's-days they have assembled at the Fort ; a large 
room, which they completely filled, being assigned to 
them. Here they have engaged in praise and prayer; 
and as much of the Christian Religion as Beardy 
could, from time to time, call to remembrance, he has 
made known to them. "The chief substance of my 
teaching was," he told me, " to show them that they 
were all sinners ; that they had broken God's holy 
laws ; and thus stood in need of the salvation which 
God had provided through the blood and righteous- 
ness of Christ." 

As soon as possible, on the 8th of July, Mr. 
Hunter despatched Jaraes Settee, one of his 
Schoolmasters, to Lac-la-Ronge, to continue the 
work so happily commenced there. Mr. Settee 
had formerly laboured at Fort Elnce, but various 
reasons induced the Missionaries to transfer his 
labours from thence to the Cumberland District. 
He arrived at Lac-la-Ronge on the 8th of August, 
a short time before two Roman-Catholic Priests, 
who afterward settled in the neighbourhood, and 
just prior to the appearance of the measles among 
the Indians, who thus stood in peculiar need of his 
assistance and instruction, many being carried off 
by the disease. The following affecting passage is 
from Mr. Settee's Journal — 

October 24. — The total number who have died here 



67 

up to the present time is 29 — viz. 5 men, 12 women, 
and 12 children, the majority of whom have been 
buried by myself. I am happy to add that they were 
all Converts, that they had forsaken their drums 
and conjurations, and held Family Prayers. Many 
of them gave evidence that they died in simple de- 
pendence on the merits of the Lord Jesus, uttering 
with their last breath such ejaculations as the fol- 
lowing — ''I love my soul and my Saviour, and I will 
praise Him while I have breath." They anxiously 
desired Christian Baptism, and it grieved me much 
to see them dying without that ordinance. 

Mr. Settee continued zealously to labour at the 
Station, erected a dwelling-house, and cultivated 
a piece of ground. The visit of a Clergyman was 
now urgently required ; and early in the morning 
of the 13th of June 1847, a canoe, with four In- 
dians, arrived at the Pas from Lac-la-Ronge, in 
order to take Mr. Hunter back with them. The 
party left the Pas on the 17th, and on the 30th 
Mr. Hunter writes — 

Accompanied by two canoes of Indians, w^ho were 
going with me for instruction and Baptism, we made 
toward Lac-la-Ronge, and about four o'clock this 
afternoon arrived at Mr. Settee's house, which is plea- 
santly situated at the base of immense granite rocks 
200 or 300 feet high. The whole establishment spoke 
well for Settee's industry and perseverance, consider- 

F 2 



68 

ing the short time he had been located here, and 
the many hinderances arising from sickness, jour- 
neys, &c. The Company's Establishment is on the 
opposite side of the Lake, where the Indians were 
encamped, and who were to be seen on the hill, with 
their children, to catch a view of their long-expected 
visitor. On my landing at the Mission-house, they 
all came paddling in their canoes to welcome my ar- 
rival: their Christian affection and joy almost over- 
came my feelings, and it was plainly discernible that 
the power of the Gospel was felt and recognised. 

July 1 — This morning, at an early hour, I commen- 
ced examining the Candidates for Baptism, and found 
them well instructed in the leading truths of the 
Christian Religion : most of them could repeat the 
Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Command- 
ments ; also portions of Scripture, Hymns, Prayers, 
Src. I explained to them the nature, responsibili- 
ties, and benefits to be derived from Christian Bap- 
tism, and then baptised 48 adults and 59 children, 
making a total of 107 persons, the first-fruits of a 
Station not yet established one year ; and had all the 
Candidates been present, instead of 107 we should 
have had about 160. 

On his return to his Station, Mr. Hunter had 
the happiness of reporting — '' All the Indians at 
Lac-la-Ronge have embraced the Christian Reli- 
gion : there is not one Heathen among them^^ Thus 
vras furnished another wonderful proof of the 
value of Native Agency. 



69 

In his last Report, July 1848, Mr. Hunter 
writes — 

Mr. Settee states, that, amidst many privations and 
hardships, he has much to encourage him in his la- 
hours. The 107 Indians whom I baptized last summer 
continue steady in the profession of the Christian 
faith, and are regular attendants on the Means of 
Grace whenever opportunity offers. 

In the Day and Sunday-schools there are 31 boys, 
24 girls, and 7 adults, making a total of 62. Three 
of these children read in the Nev/ Testament, four 
write on slates, and about 30 can repeat the Creed, 
Lord's Prayer, and Commandments, in English. A 
great number of the adults can do the same. 

In September 1847, 38 Indians, from the neigh- 
bourhood of the Churchill River, visited Lac-la- 
Ronge, in the hope of receiving Christian instruc- 
tion and baptism. From other parts, also, heathen 
Indians are constantly arriving. Writing on this 
subject, Settee thus notices the remarkable ear- 
nestness of the converted Indians in watching for 
souls — 

Our Christian Indians are constantly on the watch 
to see a heathen. As soon as they see one they sur- 
round him, and endeavour to persuade him out of 
his evil ways, and become a praying man like one of 
themselves ; praying at the same time that the Lord 



70 

would convince and convert all the heathen to wor- 
ship and serve Him. 

Thus do these poor men '' warn the wicked," 
and deliver their own souls. Settee has made 
several journeys around his Station, and finds the 
same desire for Christian instruction existing 
wherever he goes. In June 1848 he was at the 
Rapid River, and says — *'I am very husy at pre- 
sent : the Indians will give me no time to write, 
coming in every minute to hear the word of God : 
indeed I have no time to eat sometimes." 

We cannot refrain from giving the following no- 
tice, from Mr. Settee's Journal, of a poor Indian 
who died in the Lord — 

Nov. 13, 1847— Poor old John Venn died. He was 
haptized by Mr. Hunter, and had for a long time 
trusted in the merits of his Saviour. I often heard 
him say to his wife, "I am looking out when my Savi- 
our sends for me. I hope I am ready to see Him who 
has so much loved me as to die for my sins, and on 
whom I wholly cast myself. Pray to Him, my wife, 
pray for our little girl, that you may be saved in the 
day of His coming." 

The manifest need of a Missionary at this Sta- 
tion induced the Committee to send the Rev. 
Robert Hunt, to strengthen and extend the work. 
He left for Hudson's Bay in the beginning of 
Jane 1849. 



71 



Openings at Isle-de-la-Crosse and Fort Chippexi-yan. 

Isle-de-la- Crosse is about as far from Lac-la- 
Ronge as Lac-la-Ronge from Mr. Hunter's Sta- 
tion. The Indians at this post have long been 
ver^' anxious for religious instructi®n, and have 
been in vain urged to embrace Romanism. At 
Fort Chippe^^yan, also, in the same direction, 
nearly 400 miles beyond Isle-de-la-Crosse, the 
same desire for Christian instruction prevailed. 
Hence when Mr. Settee vrent in July 1846 to re- 
side at Lac4a-Ronge, James Beardy removed to 
Isle-de-la-Crosse. 

In a Letter dated August 3, 1S4S, ]Mr. Hunter 
writes — 

The openings which present themselves at Isle-de- 
la-Crosse and Fort Chippewyan are as encouraging as 
ever. The only cause' for regret is, that while no 
Missionary is coming out this year for Lac-la-Ronge, 
an additional Romish Priest has been sent this year 
to Isle-de-la-Crosse, where two Priests are ah'eady 
stationed. One of them will in all probability pro- 
ceed immediately to Fort Chippewyan. A Chief at 
that place, named Tripe-de-Roche, sent to me this 
summer, requesting that I would send some one to 
teach them and their children the Christian Religion, 
as they were unwilling to attend the ministrations of 
the Romish Priest. I have some reason to believe 



72 

that this disposition is prevalent among the Chippe- 
wyans. 

The call for Missionaries is here plain enough ; 
but where are the men ? 



Formation and Progress of the Manitoba Station, 

The Manitoba Station, already referred to, is 
about 200 miles west from the Red River, and was 
commenced by the Rev. A. Cowley in August 
1842. He and his wife at first lived in a tent, 
and endured great hardships. In December, Mr. 
Cowley fixed upon a new locality for the Station — 
a place called Partridge Crop, where he still re- 
sides. In August 1843 he was obliged to return 
to the Red River to assist Mr. Cockran, and the 
Manitoba Station was left in charge of Christian 
Natives. During his residence at Red River, Mr. 
Cowley occasionally visited Partridge Crop, and 
finally returned thither in August 1844. 

During the first year of Mr. Cowley's residence 
at the new Station, a house and offices were 
erected, a piece of land enclosed and sown, and 
various other secular labours undertaken. Ser- 
vice was held on the Lord's-day, and a Day and 
Sunday-school were carried on as regularly as 
circumstances permitted. Other means of grace 



73 

also were afforded, and the Indians around the 
Station were visited by Mr. Cowley as frequently 
as his duties at home would allow. On the sub- 
ject of Indian civilization Mr. Cowley wrote — 

We have succeeded in persuading two Indians to 
prepare wood to build themselves houses, another to 
allow us to prepare wood for him, he being unable, 
and a goodly number of them to form : there are thir- 
teen small patches of ground planted with potatoes, 
&c., by them, and all separately fenced. 

At the end of the next year — July 1846 — Mr. 
Cowley was stiU unable to report the conversion 
of even one Indian. The Saulteaux Indians, 
among whom Mr. Cowley labours, have ever 
been found peculiarly indifferent to the message 
of the Gospel, and pertinacious in adhering to 
their own superstitions. The means of grace 
were continued as in the previous year, and the 
Day-school numbered, during the winter, 20 regu- 
lar scholars, 15 of them being boarders. A 
Schoolroom was built, and occupied for the first 
time in November 1845. Mr. Cowley wrote, in 
July 1846— 

I have introduced the carding and spinning of 
wool into the School, to assist in clothing the child- 
ren, and to teach them habits of industry and 
economy. In this, as well as in reading and writing, 
they are making, I think, very satisfactory progress. 



74 

Some have also commenced arithmetic. You can 
scarcely conceive the pleasure which I enjoy in seeing 
these boys and girls, once more than half-naked and 
half-starved, now sitting around me, all clean, well 
fed, and tidily dressed ; sometimes reading, either the 
Word of the living God, or such other books as they 
are able ; at other times, standing by my side, singing 
with sweet voices the praises of their Maker ; or falling 
down on their knees, with me, to pray to God our 
Saviour. 

This year witnessed a considerable advance to- 
ward Indian civilization. On this point Mr. Cow- 
ley wrote — 

I do not know, among all the families living about 
us, one single Indian who has not a small piece of 
land planted with potatoes. One has also wheat, and 
many of them maize, in addition to potatoes, growing 
beautifully upon their land. We number seven houses 
upon the banks of the River; and the framework of 
another is erected, and logs cut ready for a ninth. 
The Indians are also anxious to obtain cattle. 

The early part of Mr. Cowley's third year at 
his Station was marked by a fatal sickness, which 
carried off many of the Indians. The Missionary 
was also much pained by the indulgence of the 
Indians around him in intoxicating liquors, several 
hopeful Natives being thus seduced from what 
appeared to be their setting out in civilized and 



/o 

Christian life. Notwithstanding, however, all that 
occurred to discourage, IMr. Cowley was of opinion 
that his position was '' at least more cheering 
than at any former period/' In the spring of 
1847 he called a meeting of the Indians for con- 
ference with them on the best things. They ac- 
knowledged the kind intentions of the ]\Iissionary, 
but said they were too old to become prapng-men 
now. Theu' children, they said, they vv'ould give 
up to be taught. Mr. Cowley's main hopes were 
thus confined to the School. He wrote of it, July 
21, 1847— 

We have now 27 boarders and 15 day-scholars, of 
whom 19 are boys and 23 girls. Some read the Bible 
quite fluently, have learned all the Catechisms we 
have here, and know a great deal of the Scriptures. 
Others are following close after them in reading ; but 
are more backward in writing and arithmetic. The 
remainder are progressing favourably. They have 
carded and spun a considerable quantity of vn-oo1 
during the year, which is now at the Red River for 
the purpose of being woven into cloth for their win- 
ter clothing. 

On the 2nd of August 1846, an Indian from 
Swan River, with his family, aiTived at the Station 
for Christian instruction. They had heard the 
Gospel aheady from Christian Indians, and the 



76 

mother and some of the children had been bap- 
tized. After a fortnight's further insti'uction Mr. 
Cowley baptized the father, Peter Brass, and two 
of his sons. Tlieir knowledge was far less than 
he could have wished ; but their coming a journey 
of 200 miles for baptism, and remaining for a 
fortnight under preparatory instruction, convinced 
him of their sincerity. They were received into 
the visible Church on the understanding that they 
were to settle do"^Ti, and live a Christian Hfe, 
where instruction might be had both for them- 
selves and their family. 

In Mr. Cowley's report for the year ending 
July 1848, the general condition of the adult 
population of the Station is described as very 
discouraging. He writes, July 17 — 

My people generally manifest the same indifference, 
apathy, and recklessness of character with regard to 
spiritual things as heretofore. They are seldom near 
us for any length of time, but wander through the 
lakes and woods for months together in search of 
food. They say they do not forget what they hear 
while here, but when I question them upon the most 
simple truths of our holy religion, their ignorance is 
distressing ; and when joined, as it sometimes is, with 
levity, truly heartrending. There are however a few, 
though very few, who pay more attention to what they 
hear, and conduct themselves with more decorum. 



77 

Five families of Indians possess eleven herd of 
horned cattle, and four or more horses, young and 
old. There are seven Indian dwelling-houses upon 
the banks of the River. 

The School may be vie\yed as flourishing. There 
are 8 Half-breed and 9 Indian boys, and 9 Half-breed 
and 9 Indian girls; total 35. Of these, 25 are fed and 
clothed at the Society's expense. Five read in the 
Bible, write on paper, and cypher : they also learn 
the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, spelling, and 
tables. Eight others read the New Testament, write, 
learn Catechisms, &c. 

We have enlarged the farm this year. The whole 
of the land besides the Schoolmaster's garden within 
our enclosure forms a square of about 297 yards by 
290. This comprises the site of our house, outhouses, 
yard, garden, and farm. We have sown about 17 
bushels of wheat and of barley, and planted 12 lbs. of 
potatoes. 

We would earnestly ask the readers of this nar- 
rative, to pray for the blessing of God upon the 
patient and persevering labours of the devoted 
Missionary at this Station. Truly the name — 
Manitoba (Evil Spirit) — is descriptive of the place ! 
Yet even here shall the '^ strong man armed " be 
overcome by a stronger than he, all his armour 
wherein he trusted shall be taken from him, and 
his spoils add glory to the Conqueror's name. 



78 

Visit of the Bishop of Montreal — Appointment and 
Departure of a Bishop for Rupert's Land. 

It remains that some reference should be 
made to the important visit of the Bishop of 
Montreal to the Red River Settlement. From 
the time of his consecration in 1836, Dr. Mountain 
cherished the intention of visiting this distant 
branch of the Church of England, and the pro- 
posal was heartily seconded by the Society. The 
prior claims of his own Diocese, however, interfered 
with the carrying out of this intention until 1842, 
when he made preparations for the visit. But a 
severe illness obliged him to defer it until the 
year 1844. 

The account of the journey has been given in 
a small published volume of the Letters written by 
the Bishop to the Secretary of the Church Mis- 
sionary Society. The information communicated 
in this volume will be found to be highly interest- 
ing : and the reader cannot fail to agree with the 
Clergy of the Mission in considering that " the 
self-denying zeal which stimulated, and the per- 
severing industry which accomplished, this pious, 
noble, and arduous enterprise, entitle his Lordship 
to our warmest acknowledgments of gratitude."* 

* Address of the Clergy to the Bishop. 



79 

The visit greatly cheered the hearts and strength- 
ened the hands of the Missionaries, and there is 
every reason to beheve that, under God's blessing, 
it has greatly tended to the stabihty and extension 
of the Mission. 

The impression produced upon the Bishop's 
mind by what he saw is sufficiently evident in his 
Letters. It may be well, however, to add the fol- 
lowing short but satisfactory testimony, extracted 
from a letter to the Secretary, dated August 27, 
1 844, written immediately after his Lordship' s re- 
tm-n to Quebec — 

It is impossible that I can write to you, after my 
visit, without paying at least a passing tribute to the 
invaluable labours of those faithful men whom the 
Society has employed in that field of its extensive 
operations : and the opportunity which was afforded 
to me of contrasting the condition of the Indians who 
are under their training and direction, with that of 
the unhappy Heathens with whom I came in contact 
on the route, signally enabled me to appreciate the 
blessings of which the Society is the instrument, and 
did indeed yield a beautiful testimony to the power 
and reality of the Gospel of Christ. 

At the close of his Letters, the Bishop of Mon- 
treal made an animated and powerful appeal to 
the Church at home, for the appointment of a 
Bishop to Rupert's Land. Measures were im- 



80 

mediately adopted for raising, by subscription, a 
sufficient sum for the endowment of a Bishopric ; 
but the more urgent claims of other countries, in 
North America and Australia, caused a delay in the 
accomplishment of the desired object. The means 
of endowment have been, however, providentially 
provided by a bequest from the late James Leith, 
Esq., formerly of York Factory, Hudson's Bay — 
who left, by will, property of the value of about 
£12,000 to certain Trustees, including the Bishop 
of London and the Governor and Deputy Gover- 
nor of the Hudson' s-Bay Company, '' for the pur- 
pose of establishing, propagating, and extending 
the Christian Protestant religion in and amongst 
the native aboriginal Indians in that part of 
America called Rupert's Land." This bequest 
the Trustees agreed to appropriate to the endow^' 
ment of the Bishopric of Rupert's Land. The ap- 
propriation has been confirmed by a decree in 
Chancery. 

The Hudson' s-Bay Company have also libe- 
rally assisted the endowment, by engaging to make 
an annual grant to the Bishopric. 

Under these circumstances, the Queen was 
pleased to erect by Letters Patent the territory of 
Rupert's Land into a Bishop's See, and to appoint 
the Rev. David Anderson, D.D., of Exeter Col- 



81 

lege, Oxford, and late Vice -Principal of St. Bees 
College, Cumberland, the first Bisliop of the same. 

Dr. Anderson has long been a zealous supporter 
of the Missionary cause, and a cordial friend of 
the principles of the Church Missionary Society. 
He has expressed to the Society his earnest de- 
sire to sustain and advance the v/ork in which it 
has been engaged, and to devote his personal la- 
bour to the preparation of a body of Native Mi- 
nisters for the more effectual extension of Christi- 
anity among the aboriginal Indians. 

The Bishop sailed for his Diocese at the com- 
mencement of this month. The appointment of 
such a Bishop to this interesting sphere of Mis- 
sionary labour wiU excite the hearts of many, 
who have long watched its opening prospects, to 
renewed thanksgiving to the Lord, and to earnest 
prayers that an abundant blessing may rest upon 
the labours of the Missionary Bishop and Clergy 
of Rupert's Land. 

Church Missionary House, 
June 1849. 



THE E^'D. 



L. Seeley^ Printer. 



Jast Piihlisked. Price os. 6d. doth, 
A SECOND EDITION ; ENLARGED, OF 

THE 

JOURNAL 

OF THE 

BISHOP OF MONTREAL, 

DURING A VISIT 
TO THE 

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY'S 

NORTH-WEST AMERICA MISSION. 

TO WHICH IS PKEFISED, BY THE SECRETARIES, 

AN INTRODUCTION, 

GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE 
MISSION, AND ITS PROGRESS TO AUGUST 1848. 



^^vMMw/w. ""-^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



I 
il il III li 


li 


il! 


il 


1 




i 


11 


lilll 



021 062 906 3 



